"I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister," said John, asthey were walking together one morning before the gates of DelafordHouse, "THAT would be saying too much, for certainly you have been oneof the most fortunate young women in the world, as it is. But, Iconfess, it would give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandonbrother. His property here, his place, his house, every thing is insuch respectable and excellent condition!--and his woods!--I have notseen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there is now standing inDelaford Hanger reenex cps!

And though, perhaps, Marianne may not seem exactlythe person to attract him--yet I think it would altogether be advisablefor you to have them now frequently staying with you, for as ColonelBrandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what mayhappen--for, when people are much thrown together, and see little ofanybody else--and it will always be in your power to set her off toadvantage reenex cps, and so forth;--in short, You understand me."

But though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and always treated themwith the make-believe of decent affection, they were never insulted byher real favour and preference. THAT was due to the folly of Robert,and the cunning of his wife; and it was earned by them before manymonths had passed away. The selfish sagacity of the latter, which hadat first drawn Robert into the scrape, was the principal instrument ofhis deliverance from it; for her respectful humility, assiduousattentions, and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening wasgiven for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars to his choice, andre-established him completely in her favour.

The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity whichcrowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instanceof what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, howeverits progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing everyadvantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time andconscience reenex cps.

When Robert first sought her acquaintance, and privatelyvisited her in Bartlett's Buildings, it was only with the view imputedto him by his brother. He merely meant to persuade her to give up theengagement; and as there could be nothing to overcome but the affectionof both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews would settlethe matter. In that point, however, and that only, he erred;--forthough Lucy soon gave him hopes that his eloquence would convince herin TIME, another visit, another conversation, was always wanted toproduce this conviction. Some doubts always lingered in her mind whenthey parted, which could only be removed by another half hour'sdiscourse with himself.

What she would engage to do towards augmenting their income was next tobe considered; and here it plainly appeared, that though Edward was nowher only son, he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert wasinevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year, not the smallestobjection was made against Edward's taking orders for the sake of twohundred and fifty at the utmost; nor was anything promised either forthe present or in future, beyond the ten thousand pounds, which hadbeen given with Fanny.

It was as much, however, as was desired, byEdward and Elinor; and Mrs. Ferrars herself, by her shuffling excuses,seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more.

With an income quite sufficient to their wants thus secured to them,they had nothing to wait for after Edward was in possession of theliving, but the readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon, withan eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor, was makingconsiderable improvements; and after waiting some time for theircompletion, after experiencing, as usual, a thousand disappointmentsand delays from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor,as usual, broke through the first positive resolution of not marryingtill every thing was ready, and the ceremony took place in Bartonchurch early in the autumn.

The first month after their marriage was spent with their friend at theMansion-house; from whence they could superintend the progress of theParsonage, and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;--couldchuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep.

Mrs. Jennings'sprophecies, though rather jumbled together, were chiefly fulfilled; forshe was able to visit Edward and his wife in their Parsonage byMichaelmas, and she found in Elinor and her husband, as she reallybelieved, one of the happiest couples in the world. They had in factnothing to wish for, but the marriage of Colonel Brandon and Marianne,and rather better pasturage for their cows.

They were visited on their first settling by almost all their relationsand friends. Mrs. Ferrars came to inspect the happiness which she wasalmost ashamed of having authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at theexpense of a journey from Sussex to do them honour.